Having conquered the world with the Office, bagged a hatful of Baftas and Golden Globes, persuaded 3 million people to download his radio show and written an episode of the Simpsons, has the unthinkable happened? Has the Ricky Gervais backlash started?
"When are you going to pick up on the mutterings all over the web that Ricky Gervais's talent stopped with David Brent and that he's better at making money than he is at making jokes?" writes a correspondent.
Crikey. So what's the evidence for the prosecution? The Office was brilliant. Fact. Although it did jump the shark with the first of those Christmas specials.
He then followed it up with Extras, whose lead character, Andy Millman, was basically a more self-aware David Brent with a slightly better sense of humour.
Now comes Gervais's much-heralded episode of the Simpsons, in which he voices a guest character called Charles Heathbar who is basically... guess what? David Brent.
He even plays the guitar and sings comedy songs to Marge Simpson... just like Brent.
"I was a little disappointed," says someone who has seen the show, which airs on Sky One next month and in the US this Sunday. "I was expecting a LOT more from Gervais."
Isn't this a little hasty? Gervais revolutionised the sitcom with the Office, and single-handedly put comedy podcasts on the map with his free weekly download available on Guardian Unlimited. You may have read about it on here.
Now in the pipeline is a second series of Extras for BBC2, which must still rate as one of the funniest things on British TV.
But back to his Simpsons episode. "The entire Charles character was essentially a lift of UK The Office's David Brent," reports another viewer. "Right down to the playing to the camera, facial and body expressions, turns-of-phrase and just general demeanor (not to mention that he's an office manager)."
Three viewers is hardly a revolt, but perhaps Gervais's comedy peers feel the same. Extras and Gervais missed out at the British Comedy Awards, and hasn't been nominated for a Bafta either (his co-star, Ashley Jensen, was rather more successful).
But what do you think? Gervais: extraordinary - or in danger of becoming just plain ordinary?
